Comic book adaptation Kick-Ass leads the field ahead of Oscar favourite The King’s Speech in the nomination stakes for this year’s Jameson Empire Awards.

Comic book adaptation Kick-Ass leads the field ahead of Oscar favourite The King’s Speech in the nomination stakes for this year’s Jameson Empire Awards.

Matthew Vaughn’s film, which starred Aaron Johnson as the comic-book fan turned self-made superhero, is nominated for six awards including Best Film and Best Director.

Also in the running for the Best Film award are futuristic thriller Inception, Facebook film The Social Network, The King’s Speech and another comic book adaptation Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.

The gongs will be given out at an event hosted by Irish comic Dara O Briain at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, on Sunday March 27.

He said: “It’s a great privilege to be presenting these awards for the third time and to be in the same room as so many enormously-talented filmmakers, to whom I can pass my script about an Irish comedian who solves murders.”

Best Actor nods go to Johnson, Inception star Leonardo DiCaprio, James Franco for 127 Hours, Colin Firth for The King’s Speech and Jesse Eisenberg for The Social Network.

The battle for Best Actress sees Black Swan star Natalie Portman up against Noomi Rapace for her role as Swedish hacker Lisbeth Salander in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Olivia Williams in The Ghost, Harry Potter star Emma Watson and Helena Bonham Carter for her role as the Queen Mother alongside Firth.

The King’s Speech got a total of five nominations and Inception picked up four, with The Social Network and 127 Hours getting three each.

King’s Speech director Tom Hooper will also turn judge on the night when he joins a panel to decide the country’s top amateur filmmaker.

Other awards will go to Best Newcomer and Best Thriller. The nominations were chosen by readers of Empire Magazine who voted on the magazine’s website.

There will also be awards for Empire Inspiration and Empire Icon.

The magazine’s editor Mark Dinning said: “The past year has produced a truly incredible spread of movies and, as ever, the Empire readers have done us proud in their choices for this year’s shortlist.

“Unlike other awards ceremonies, the Empire Academy – the tens of thousands of enthusiastic and smart voters who have contributed to this unique and savvy list - have once again rewarded the right movies, resulting in a diverse selection that reflects what cinemagoers have really taken to their hearts this past 12 months.”

FULL LIST OF EMPIRE AWARDS NOMINEES: next page

FULL LIST OF EMPIRE AWARDS NOMINEES

The Jameson Empire Awards will be handed out at a ceremony in London next month.

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